Itay Yavetz, an IDF soldier who was killed in an attack in southern Gaza’s Rafah on October 19, is posthumously promoted to second lieutenant, the military announces.
Yavetz, who served in the Nahal Brigade’s 932nd Battalion, was also a cadet in the Erez program, a relatively new elite course for platoon and company commanders in the Ground Forces.
Yavetz was in the advanced training stage of the program, which includes academic studies and officer training. Accordingly, the IDF says he was posthumously promoted from the rank of sergeant to second lieutenant — the lowest officer rank.
The military adds that the Erez program, which began in 2023, will also be included in the rule-book for posthumous promotions, which has previously been applied to cadets in the Israeli Air Force, Israeli Navy and the standard Ground Forces officer’s school.
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From the Liveblog of
Friday, October 31, 2025
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